Coveted parade spots bring competition

Houma resident Dan Gray loves Mardi Gras. But he might love his parade spot more.A former king of the Krewe of Houmas, Gray said he gave up parading in the krewe after more than 35 years because it was more fun to hang out at his family’s Mardi Gras stand and party house. The house, a former taxi stand on Park Avenue, was renovated into a Mardi Gras party house nicknamed the “Mardi Gras Shack” with a kitchen, bathroom, bar and living room. Gray has been at the spot since 1998.On Wednesday he was out at the shack touching up the paint with some fresh green, purple and gold for the parade season. It’s a lot of work to maintain, he said, but it’s worth it.Gray is one of many Houma residents who take securing their annual viewing spot along the Houma parade route very, very seriously.And if you don’t have property along the route, it can take dedication, planning and sometimes money to secure a spot, along with knowledge of local parking laws.Local authorities warn there are rules paradegoers need to remember when staking out spots for the festivities, which will kick off Sunday in Lafourche.The Krewe of Versailles is set to roll at noon in Larose, the Krewe Des Les Petite Lions will roll at 1 p.m. Golden Meadow and the Krewe of Shaka will roll at 1:30 p.m. in Thibodaux. In Houma, parades will kick off with the Krewe of Hercules at 6 p.m. Feb. 1.In both Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, you need to follow traditional parking rules, even during Mardi Gras, police said.For instance, private cars and trucks can’t park on a state right of way. Along the west-Houma route, which starts at Southland Mall and ends in downtown Houma near the Town Hall on Barrow Street, the right of way varies. The general rule of thumb, officials said, is to keep an eye on the power lines that stretch along West Park Avenue and Main and Barrow streets. You don’t want to park or build a stand between the poles and the roadway’s edge.Anything used to cordon off private property, whether it’s a barricade or ropes tied to stakes, can’t be on state or parish property, either.Another major rule of thumb is to make sure your vehicle doesn’t block the parade route or side-street intersections.Blocking intersections can prevent emergency vehicles from getting through if there’s an emergency during the parade, said Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis.In both Houma and Thibodaux, officers will sweep the parade route before the event to look for cars parked improperly. In downtown Houma, the parking meters are bagged along the route before the parade, and parking is prohibited in those spots, Duplantis said.If problem vehicles are found, police will attempt to track down the owner to move the car. If the owner can’t be found, the car will be ticketed and towed as a last resort.“We’re trying to be as lenient as possible. We’re not interested in writing a bunch of tickets,” said Detective David Melancon, a spokesman for the Thibodaux Police Department. “But we can’t have hindrances to the parade route. We need the parades to flow freely.”Officers will direct traffic at crowded intersections after the parade, Duplantis said.Along the Houma route, parking can sometimes get very competitive. Paradegoers can pay hundreds of dollars to rent a spot from businesses and property owners. Some residents will park their cars in open property along the route weeks-to-days ahead of time to call dibs on open spots.Crystal Bourg Carmichael of Lockport said she rents a spot at Mr. H Rent to Own in Houma. “Love our spot,” she said.But others said its better to have family or make friends along the route to secure your annual party spot.Viewing stands like Gray’s are a common sight along parade routes. Those are also prohibited on state and parish property.The stands may be installed up to 30 days before the first parade and must be must be removed 10 days after Carnival season ends. This year Fat Tuesday, the last day of Carnival, is Feb. 12.If you’re planning to erect a stand in Terrebonne, you first have to get a permit from the parish Planning and Zoning Department. That office is on the fourth floor of the Government Tower, 8026 Main St., in Houma. For information, call 873-6569. Viewing-stand permits are $50. Vendors erecting stands to sell food must get approval from the state Department of Health and Hospitals before applying for the local permit.So far this year, Terrebonne Parish has permitted 24 reviewing stands and four concession stands, said Terrebonne Planning and Zoning Director Pat Gordon. More concession stands will likely be permitted as the parades get closer.

Staff Writer Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

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